Last week I was saddened to learn my teen crush, David Cassidy, had passed away at the young age of 67. Like so many other preteen girls, I too had several posters of him hanging on my bedroom wall and loved to imagine what life would be like as a member of the Partridge family. Nostalgia invaded my thoughts with news of his passing, and then sorrow followed when I read what his final words were to his family.So much wasted time.Wow."So much wasted time" were the last words he spoke according to his daughter, Katie Cassidy. Of course, I don’t know the intimate details of his life, but I read he struggled with alcohol and substance abuse, was divorced three times and fathered two children - a son, Beau and a daughter, Katie. He and his daughter didn’t have much of a relationship; he was quoted in People magazine as saying, “I wasn’t her father. I was her biological father but I didn’t raise her. She has a completely different life.” Could this be the time he felt he had wasted: a lifetime of missing out on his daughter’s life? Maybe it was time wasted away in addiction? Only he knows for sure what time he regretted wasting but, unfortunately, David’s not the only one guilty of wasting the time he was given; I can waste quite a bit of time throughout my days, too.

Yet, I can’t help but wonder if his regrets ran a bit deeper than time wasted on social media and frivolity. My heart flooded with sorrow for him as it often does for anyone with the potential to become consumed with regret over a life marked by brokenness.As a reformed grudge-holder, something happens within me when I hear of people refusing to allow forgiveness – either the giving or receiving of it - the opportunity to flourish. I understand the security we think we have by holding onto our grudges, but it’s lies. All lies. The only one harmed by the grudge is the grudge-holder. And who wins when we refuse to forgive as God has forgiven us? The devil, that's who. He's a sly one, always looking for a way to trip us up. We must guard against giving "the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness]" (Ephesians 4:27, AMP). I understand toxic relationships must end and people go their separate ways — I get that — but sometimes pride and priorities (or lack of) cause the break.The way I see it, Offense + Grudges = Brokenness which means opportunities to create memories are now missed. This used to cause regret to creep in me to the point of hopelessness until a wise friend gave me a new perspective. When schedules allow we meet for a chat over breakfast. I always look forward to hearing what’s been happening in her life and gleaning from her spiritually. She is a wealth of Scriptural knowledge. After listening to her share some sorrow over a broken relationship I said, “it’s a shame that all this time spent mad is just wasted time.” Her reply wasn’t full of despair - it was full of hope. “I refuse to look at it as a waste,” she said, “because God doesn’t waste anything.” And she is right! Nothing is wasted, or without purpose in God’s economy (1 Corinthians 15:58, AMP). I was thankful for her wisdom and the reminder.David Cassidy is now gone. He can’t change one moment of his time here on earth but his words can live on to help change the moments of the time we have left. I believe the Lord will make sure David's last words don't go to waste; they will have impact and purpose as others are spurred on to change by them. His daughter wrote, “This will be a daily reminder for me to share my gratitude with those I love as to never waste another minute.”Wouldn't it be great to have confidence rather than regret when our death draws near? My hope is to have the same attitude Paul had when he wrote these words to Timothy,“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure [from this world] is at hand and I will soon go free. I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight,I have finished the race,I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error]. In the future there is reserved for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-7, AMP).As we seek to allow God to change our identity – one letter at a time – let’s become good stewards of our time. Remember, there is an appointed time for men to die (Hebrews (:27) “so teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12, NKJV).#BeYouF-Focused